Rail brace



Jul 5, 1949.

G. S. VICKROY RAIL BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1945 few; M4490), abuzz/flaw y 1949- s. s. VICKROY 2,475,116

} RAIL BRAcE Filed Oct. 25, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 6 FEB.

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Patented July 5, 1949 RAIL BRACE George S. Vickroy, Johnstown, Pa., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 25, 1945, Serial No. 624,403

2 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable rail braces and more particularly to rail braces embodyin a wedge member for effecting adjustment thereof.

Adjustable rail braces heretofore used have employed conventional screw threaded bolts and nuts for holding the parts in place and to retain the locking member or members in locking position. Due to the vibration to which said members are subjected, the nuts tend to become loosened, whereby the brace does not function properly. In addition, the loosening of the nuts to permit readjustment and tightening of same after such readjustment is effected adds considerably to the time required for such readjustment.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable rail brace that is not subject to loosening by reason of vibration.

It is a further object to provide a rail brace that is quickly adjustable.

It is another object to provide an improved rail brace which is simple and rugged in design and dependable in use.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an adjustable rail brace embodying my improved locking means;

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a cross section on line III--III of Fi ure 1;

Figure 4 is a view of the locking member and wedge; and

Figures 5 and 6 show the locking pin in detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the letter A designates a tie plate on the inner end of which, between shoulders S, there is disposed a railway rail R. The position of the rail R relative to the shoulders S is determined by an adjustable brace B, due to the brace B being engaged by a wedge member D which in turn slidably engages a stop member or abutment E, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tie plate A adjacent the outer end thereof. The brace member B has side flanges 2, the lower ends 4 of which rest on the tie plate A, and the upper ends I5 engage the lower side of the rail head.

It is noted that the ends 4 of the side flanges 2 extend outwardly along the ends of the stop member E whereby the brace member B is prevented from moving laterally with respect to the tie plate A.

A lateral web or cover 8, having a central square-shaped aperture Ill, connects and extends between the side flanges 2. The cover 8 is disposed above and. extends partially over the stop E. Lateral ribs I2 which are angularly disposed, extend inwardly from the side flanges 2 to a point adjacent the aperture Ill. The ribs 12 are longitudinally aligned with each other and the center of the aperture ID. The outer surface l6 of the ribs l2 slopes upwardly towards the rail head. Bracing webs l4 extend inwardly from ribs l2 to the rail R and are connected by a web H, the outer surface of which is aligned with the inner edge of the aperture l0.

Rhombic apertures I8 having acute angles at the upper corner nearest the rail head and the lower corner nearest the outer side of the tie plate are provided in the side flanges 2 beneath the cover 8. The inner side of the openings [8 is in alignment with the ribs l2 and the outer side extends somewhat past the inner side of the stop E.

The upper corner of the stop E nearest the rail R is undercut to form a sloping shoulder or bearing surface 20 which is parallel to the sloping surface of the ribs [2.

The wedge member D which is adapted to be disposed through the openings I8 is rhomboidal in cross section having sloping sides which are complementary to the sloping surfaces l6 of the ribs l2, surface 20 and stop E. The midportion 22 of the inner side of the wedge member D is serrated across the full width thereof. Such serrations are normal to the wedge instead of sloping like the side surfaces.

From the foregoing, it is seen that forcing the wedge member D inwardly between the ribs ll of the brace member B, and the stop E forces the brace member B tightly against the web and head of the rail B. At the same time, due to the sloping sides of the wedge and the complementary sloping surfaces of the abutting ribs and stop member, the brace member B is held rigidly on the tie plate. Thus, there is no necessity for using bolts to hold the parts together. In order to overcome the tendency of the brace member B to lift the rail, spikes 25 are driven through holes in the tie plate with the heads thereof engaging the rail base.

After the wedge member D has been properly adjusted, it is locked in position by a locking plate 30 having a depending square stud portion 32. One side of the stud portion has serrations 34 which match with the serrations 22 on the wedge member. Thus, when the stud 32 is lowered into the aperture Ill, the serrations thereon interflt with those on the wedge member D and prevent any movement of the wedge member. An undercut portion 36 may be provided on the underside of the locking plate 30 to facilitate entry of a lifting member thereunder in case it is embodiment of my invention, it will be under'- stood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be-z devised-Within the scope of my invention, as defined-rimthe appended,

claims.

I claim: 1. In an adjustable rail brace including an adjustable rail contacting member, an elongated" stop member, and a wedge member interposed between; said:v stop: memberand said adjustable member to adjust; thetlatterwithitsside surfaces'sin contact :Witlr-said iadjustable member and said stopxmemberrtoj-ppsitionzthe adjustable memberagainst: thesballtofy the; rail; said adjustablerailzzcontactingxmembseri:having-side members extending: along the ends: oft said elongatedstop member, the contacting: side surfaces of said wedger member; and'asaid :adjustable member and said stop member being slanted upwardly in a direetionntowards? a rail contacted by said adjustablesrail contactingmember to simultaneous,

ly-z-positioncsaid adjustablesrail 'contacting' member against the balls of the rail andhold' said adjustable memben"firm1y on its base.

2." Inranradjustablerailibrace including an adjustable rail contacting member, an elongated stop member, the adjustable rail contacting member having side members extending transversely along the ends of said elongated stop member, the side members of said adjustable member having openings therein adjacent said stop member, and a wedge member disposed between said stop member and said'adjustable -member and extending throughithe openings in said-Eside members with its side surfaces in contact with said stop member and the inner sides of the openings in the said side members to position said adjustable member against the ball of the rail, the contacting-side surfaces of said wedge member,

,said stopmember and said side members being slantedlupWardly-in a direction towards the rail contacted. by said adjustable rail contacting member to simultaneously position said adjustable rail, contacting member against the ball of the rail and hold said adjustable member firmly on its-base.

GEORGES. VICKROY.

REFERENCES CITED The-following:referemces are of record in the file of 'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name- Date 837,175' Anderson-- Nov.- 27, 1906 868,836 Blaine Oct. 22, 1907 1,126,508 Liebm-ann= Jan. 26, 1915 1,163,316 Forsyth: Dec. 14, 1915 1,323,802 Wortman Dec. 2, 1919- 1,478g558' Edwards Dec. 25, 1923 1;'836,'371* Gibbs Dec. 15, 1931 

